Cardinals sign OF Dexter Fowler to a 5-year, $82.5 million deal

One year after the Chicago Cubs poached an All-Star outfielder off their roster, the St. Louis Cardinals returned the favor, agreeing to terms with center fielder Dexter Fowler on an five-year, $82.5 million contract, the first everyday piece of the World Series champions to officially depart.

Fowler joins Aroldis Chapman, the fireballing closer who signed an $86 million deal with the Yankees, as key pieces of the champion Cubs to depart. Fowler’s exit seemed likely when Chicago signed left-handed hitting center fielder Jon Jay, who is expected to platoon with Albert Almora Jr. in 2017.

A year ago, the Cubs raided the Cardinals by signing right fielder Jason Heyward to an eight-year, $184 million contract. He was slated to play center field in Chicago until the Cubs retained Fowler on a one-year deal he signed in February.

The Cardinals will lose a first-round draft pick as compensation for signing Fowler.

Fowler, who turns 31 in March, had a .393 on-base percentage for the Cubs in 2016, hitting 13 homers and stealing 13 bases in 125 games and earning his first All-Star Game selection. He excelled in the National League Championship Series, batting .333 and scoring six runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He homered twice in the World Series, including a leadoff blast in the Cubs’ Game 7 victory.

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